The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-04-14
Department GleanIngs.
HoNoRISG A SOLDIER MOTHER.

HONORING SOLDIER MOTHER
DEAR TRIBUNE: Forsyth Corps, No. /. has spent
happy and useful Winter, expanding on an aver
age of $40 month cash in charity, and distributing
good things and good cheer without stint. Peace,
pleasure and harmony prevail. and the bi-monihly
coming together, with our dear Emma Sibley Pease
as presiding officer, is n genuine social afternoon.
An April fool party, chiefly for the young people,
was the last evening entertainment. May party,
followed by grand annual June benefit, Will
close the work of ingatherng for the summer
Mrs Annie Whiticnmyer. Past National Chap
lain, was given reception on the evening OF April
by Post and Corps, Capt j. Kent Hamilton, 18th
Ohio. our new soldier Mayor presiding, after intro
ductory remarks by Mrs. Pease Capt: Hamilton
welcomed Mrs Wittenmyer in his fine, ferv1d style.
On rising TO speak she was heartily cheered, "A large
proportion of the audience being veterans; and at
the conclusion OF her thrilling recital OF her ex-
periencc in camp, field ana hospital three rousing
cheers and q tiger were given with n VIII, coupled
with a vote of thanks. Her account of running
tue blockade mt Nicksburg with Gen. Grants fleet,
Mrs. Grant aboard. was picturesquely sublime.
AMER Mrs. Wittennlyer's address Mrs. Kate H.
Sherwood was introduced and read engrossed reso-
Iuiions OF Forsyth Corps constituting Mrs Chhr-
lotte T. Forsyth. Our hero's mother" IA life
member of the Corps. At the conclusion she took
from jewel box beautiful gold badge of the
WRC., appropriately inscribed. and bearing, on
the diverse. the monogram " G. AR" surrounded
by laurel wreath in green gold, and pinned ii ON
Mrs. Forsyth's breast. The scene was very touch
ing. and there was not a dry eye in the house.
Gen. Il. = Slevin, Colonel. lOOth Ohio then came
forward and paid Lieut.. Forsyth. who was captured
IN East Tennessee while serving in that regiment,
magnificent, sOldeTly tribute. and concluded with
the account Of how he was shot by guard while
looking out of window OF Libby Prison. At the
conclusion Mrs. Elizabeth Mansfield Irving stepped
TO the front and read, in touching manner. the
following poem. written for the occasion by Mrs.
Sherwood. AT the close Mrs. Witiemyer warmly
greeted the entire audience. who rose and came
forward 10 express their pleasure at her presence:
OUR WOMAN HEROES.
By Kate BrolcILee Sherwood.
There heroes for danger and heroes for war,
And heroes there are without chevron or star;
Whose monuments rise in no temple of fame,
Whose deeds neither herald nor trumpet proclaim.
The mothers who gave their brave TO the fray,
With tears for their pillowz hut smiles for the day
The wives with their babies asleep in their arms,
Their hearts throbbng fast at the battle alarms.
The girl leaning shy on her young lovers breast,
One kiss, It's the last. ere his soul is at rest;
The widow no passed from the freshly turned clod
To comfort the wounded, or speed them TO God.
No soldier answered the call of the drum,
But left woman weeping until he should come;
No hero ere died in the heat Of the strife,
But woman in sorrow hung over his life.
o. brave woman heroes your faith and your pride
Have urged to the conquest, have cheered those
who died;
Your prayers have lit the rough paths of defeat,
Till glory blaZed over the lines of retreat.
When carnage ran reddest, and woman was seen,
All hats uplifled as 'twere TO IA queen;
Now, open ranks, Comrades, salute her once more,
WORK FOR THE VETERANS.
The following General Orders have the right
ring and the new incentive TO work will be n God
send 10 Illinois Corps:
DEPT H'Dq'Rs. woNAN's RELIEF CoRPs,
DELAvAN, ILL, April 5, 1887. J
General Order No. 2.
A committee OF three ladies together with the
Department President. in compliance with
quest OF the Trustees of the Soldiers and Sailors
Home at Quincy, ILL.,, visited that institution sat =
urday, April 2, where they spent all necessary
time In asoertaining what the Woman's Relief
Corps Of Illinois could best do To add to the COM
fort of the veteran inmates. The appropriation
made by our State seems well expended thus far,
and we have only TO hope further appropriations
made through the kindness and charity of Illinois
great people may soon provide all that Is lacking
| 90 show TO neighboring States and the world
| how we appreciate our brave defenders OF our flag
| To speak OF SCARED fnces and absent limbs eIna-
ciated forms and suffering humanity, stretched
| upon Government cots, in unhomelike wards re-
minds one Of the absolute necessity of a hospital
where, free from noise and hustle the tender hands
of comrades may close each others eyes in death.
Across the Tavine through which "A stream OF water
| flows on a rolling mound, cemetery has already
| been designated, and in this place before many
days at least six Of our veterans will lie side by
side for the exposure Of war has left them wrecks
aud they await their final muster. While summing
up the little wants we did not assure the Trustees
ofthe Home that our Corps would join their efforts
la tributes Of love and respect but expressed to
| them "A belief that each and every member of our
order willing and ready To continue the la
bors Of 6-65 and in accordance with this trust the
| committee have arranged work which they wish
each Corps to do rs found in the following lists Of
| wants:
| TO EACH CORPS.
l. Send at once one box Of plants bulbs and seeds
| To decorate the grounds Of the Home.
2 Send one box of books, pamphlets maga-
| zines. etc.
| g. send six floor mats for front Of cots
L. Send one paper holder and one comb case
| s. Send six buttonbags, six pin-cushions six
| needle books-all filed.
| g. Send four cheerful patchwork quilts I3lxIlt
yards in size.
| T. Send one night shirt.
| 3. Send one game of some kind
| O. SEND one cheerful picture for wall. (No snow
| storms or sad countenaces)
| 10. Send 81 in money To buy clocks looking
glasses. easy chairs curtains, slippers foot-stools
| aud tables.
To this list Corps may add anything they may
| choose Let plants go first, books second, money
| third. all but quilts fourth and quilts last.
| Please report date of sending article to Depart-
| ment President, that punctuaty list may be kept
| for Department Convention.
Send money 10 Department President and re-
ceive her receipt for the same and she will see that
| il il expended for comforts for the Home All
other articles send TO Soldiers and Sailors Home
Quincy ILL.,, care Of Col. lippencott, Superntend-
ent aud prepay all cxpressagc.
Committee: Julia q. Sine, Georgia Berry, Sarah
| NJ. Bradford.
by command OF SUE A. SANDERS, Department
President.
ELLA CoBEAs, Department Secretary.
DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA.
DEAR TRIBUNE: George II. Thomas Relief Corps